LITERARY ELEMENTSTHROUGH DISNEY
Point of View
Definition: The
perspective from which
the story is told.
Narrators of stories can
take on three points of
view:
1st person= “I/we”
2nd person= “you”
3rd person= “he/she,
they/them”
FIRST-PERSON:
 The story is told by one of the characters in his or
her own words.
 Always considered to be a limited point of view
since the reader is told only what one specific
character knows and observes.
THIRD-PERSON: The story is told by someone outside of the
story itself by using “he” or “she.”
 OMNISCIENT: This narrator is an all-knowing observer who
can describe all the characters’ actions, thoughts, and
feelings.
 LIMITED OMNISCIENT: This is a storyteller who shares the
thoughts and feelings of only one particular character or a
select group of characters .
Freytag’s Pyramid
(Plot)
Climax
Exposition
Conflict Introduced
Exposition
Definition: The
portion of a story
that introduces
important
background
information to the
audience — for
example, information
about the setting,
events occurring
before the main plot,
characters’
backstories, etc.
Example: At the beginning of Robin Hood, the
rooster Alan-a-Dale describes how Robin Hood has
been robbing from the rich to give to Nottingham’s
poor.
Conflict & Rising Action
Definition: An inherent
incompatibility
between the objectives
of two or more
characters or forces.
Types:
External and Internal
Begins the Rising Action
Phase of the story.
Definition: Sequence of
events that build up to
the Climatic Event.
Example: External Conflict.- When Shere Khan the
man-eating tiger returns to the jungle, Mowgli must
flee to the safety of human civilization.
Climax
Definition: The turning
point in the action (also
known as the “crisis”)
and/or the highest point of
interest or excitement.
Many stories have
numerous climactic events.
Example: Pinocchio is transformed into a donkey
and sold into labor. The audience is left wondering
if he will ever make it home to his father.
Falling Action and
Denouement(Resolution)
Definition: The final
part of a play,
movie, or narrative
in which the strands
of the plot are drawn
together and
matters are finally
resolved.
Example: At the end of The Little Mermaid, Ursula is killed, King
Triton turns Ariel into a human, and Ariel marries Prince Eric.
Then Sebastian sings over the closing credits. WIN.
Medias Res
Definition:
(Latin "in the
midst of things")
is the literary and
artistic narrative
technique of
relating a story
from the
midpoint, rather
than the
beginning
Ratatouille begins looking at a house in the distance with the
muffled sounds of what turn out to be shotgun blasts and then
with Remy jumping through a plate glass window while
carrying a book significantly larger than himself. It quickly
jumps back to explain how the incident occurred.
Flashback
Definition:
A literary device in
which an earlier
episode, conversation,
or event is inserted into
the sequence of events.
Often presented as a
memory of the narrator
or of another character.
An interruption in a
story to permit the
author to relate an
event from the past
Example: In Toy Story 2, Jesse remembers her previous
owner and all that they use to do together, before the
doll was discarded.
Breaking the 4th Wall
Definition: Speaking
directly to or
acknowledging the
audience. The “fourth
wall” refers to the
imaginary “wall” at the
front of the stage in a
traditional three-walled
box set in a proscenium
theater.
Example: Timon acknowledges the audience when he
cuts off Pumbaa midsong: “Pumbaa, not in front of the
kids!”
Imagery
Definition: Words
or phrases that
appeal to one or
more of the five
senses.
Writers use
imagery to
describe how
their subjects
look, sound, feel,
taste, and smell.
Archetype
Definition: an
original model or
pattern from which
other later copies
are made. This idea
is applied to
characters,
situations, and
symbols.
Example: Alice must pass a series of tests as she makes
her way through Wonderland. This kind of journey is a
common archetype in Western literature and is best
epitomized by Homer’s The Odyssey.
Character Foil
Definition: A
character who
illuminates the
qualities of
another character
by means of
contrast.
Example: Gaston’s combination of good looks
and terrible personality emphasizes Beast’s
tragic situation. The former is a monster trapped
inside a man; the latter a man trapped inside a
monster.
Dramatic Irony
Definition: Irony that
occurs when the
meaning of the
situation is
understood by the
audience but not by
the characters in the
literary work.
Example: Throughout most of The Lion King,
Simba mopes around feeling guilty for his father’s
death, unaware (as the audience is) that Scar
actually killed Mufasa
Anachronism
Definition: an
error of
chronology or
timeline in a
literary piece. In
other words,
anything that is
out of time and
out of place.
Example: Disney’s Sword in the Stone has Merlin
discussing concepts that were developed after the
medieval ages, i.e. “Round” world.
Example: in Aladdin, Genie is constantly wearing
clothing that would be more suitable in future eras.
Allusion
Definition: A brief
reference to a
person, place,
thing, or passage in
another work,
usually for the
purpose of
associating the
tone or theme of
the one work with
the other.
Types: Historical,
Literary, Biblical
Example: In The Hunchback of Notre Dame, the
gargoyle Laverne tells a flock of pigeons to “Fly my
pretties! Fly, Fly!” à la the Wicked Witch of the West in
The Wizard of Oz.
Foreshadowing
Definition: A warning
or indication of a
future event.
Many times presented
with the change of
weather
Example: Before she’s fatally shot by a hunter (and
millions of childhoods are scarred), Bambi’s mother
gives Bambi a stern lecture on the dangers of man.
Mood
Definition: The
atmosphere that
pervades a
literary work with
the intention of
evoking a certain
emotion or
feeling from the
audience.
Example: Fantasia frequently
uses music and setting to
drastically shift the mood from
light and playful to dark and
foreboding. This image makes
the audience feel …..
Example: In Cinderella, the main
character completes ALL the added
chores her family has assigned her
and has done so in time to leave for
the ball. Once she is ready, her
stepsisters destroy the dress she
planned to wear to the ball. How
does this make the audience feel?
Suspense
Definition: The growing
interest and excitement
readers experience
while awaiting a climax
or resolution in a work
of literature.
Example: In Toy Story 3, the audience in
suspense as they watch the toys attempt
to escape the daycare.
A feeling of anxious
uncertainty about the
outcome of events.
Writers create suspense
by raising questions in
the minds of their
readers.
Example: In Brave, the audience is anxious as they
watch Merida jumping towards her mother as a
bear is reaching for her.
Symbolism
Definition: An
object, character,
figure, or color
that is used to
represent an
abstract idea or
concept.
Example: Dumbo’s “magic” feather represents
courage and self-confidence. Once he truly believes
in himself, he no longer needs it as a psychological
crutch.
Motif
Definition: A
recurrent image,
word, phrase, or
action that tends to
unify the literary
work or that forms
the theme in a work
of literature.
Example: in Finding Nemo, a recurring
action (motif) is forming friendships.
Example: in The Lion King, a recurring phrase
(motif) is “Hakuna matata.”
Allegory
Definition: A story with
two meanings, a literal
meaning and a
symbolic meaning.
An Allegory is a story in
which characters,
settings and actions
stand for something
specific beyond
themselves.
The characters and
situations stand for
historical figures and
events.
Example: Star Wars makes a biblical connection by
centering on the “Chosen One” who has “power” from
the force and will bring “balance” to the universe. The
characters and situations contribute to this biblical
idea.
Theme
Definition: A
common thread or
repeated idea that
is incorporated
throughout a
literary work. A
general idea that
can apply to
multiple genres .
Example: A theme in Frozen, is the importance of
accepting personal identity.